Convertible chair



NOV. 3, 1936. H- A RQBlNSQNg 5R 2,059,397

CONVERTIBLE CHAIR Filed Oct. 16, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Nov. 3, 1936. I IlI. A. ROBINSON, sR

CONVERTIBLE* CHAIR Filed Oct. 16, 1934 3 'Sheets-Sheet 2 n III IlIIIIIIIIIVIIIIIIII||||III |`\\\\\\\\\s.||\. n'. ..u....IIIIIIIIIIIIIII...IIIIIIIIIIIIIIl IIIIIIIIIIIIIIII;

a e vIIIIIIIIu I Nov. 3, 1936. H. A. ROBINSON, SR

CONVERTIBLE CHAIR Filed Oct. 16, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Nov. 3, 1936 UNITED sTArss foFFlcE Hugh AnRobinson,v Sr., Coral- Gables, Fla., as-

signor to Curtiss Aerocar Company, Inc., Coral Gables, Fla., acorporation of Florida Application october 16, 1934,- ser1ia11N0- 748.483

a claims. (01.515546) Y This invention relates to an improvedberth seat combination, and has as its principal object simplicity of constructionand manipulation with resulting economies in manufacture, together with improved appearance and a more efficient utilization of space.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate one embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 1 is aside e1evation of a two chair unit transformable into a berth;

Fig. -2 is a sectional side view with the parts in berth forming position;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary side View in section showing the supporting means for the chair back when the latter is in chair forming position;

Fig. 4 is a front sectional view of the structure shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a front View of one of the chair units;

Fig. 6 is a front elevation of one of the movable chair backs showing certain structural details;

Fig. 7 is a sectional viewsubstantially on line l-l of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a View of the under side of the chair seat; Y

Fig. 9 is an end View of the structure shown in Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a plan view of the seat base;

Fig. 11 is a detail front view showing the manner of attaching one of the chair arms; and

Fig. l2 is a side View of the structure shown in Fig. 11. l

Referring to the drawings the two chairs which together form a berth unit are generallyv indicated at 2 and 3, and are shown as comprising a base having front and back members 8, side members ll and arms 5. Movable backs 6 and seats I complete the general chair assembly. The seat bases are preferably formed of ply wood and the front and back members 8 are inwardly inclined for the purpose of increasing the foot room between adjacent chairs.

The base carries, at a suitable height above the floor, a rectangular metal seat frame 9 composed of rear and front angles III and Vside angles II and I2 preferably formed of steel. The members I6, II and I2 are mitered and welded at the corners to form a unitary frame.

Welded to the side members I I and I2 are steel back supports I3 (best shown in Fig. 3) formed of steel plates the lower ends being bent inwardly at I6 and upwardly at Il. The upwardly bent portions are provided with slots I8 and I9 to receive the lower ends of the chair back frame as later described. Seat supports I4 are also welded to side members I I and I2. These 'seat supports are formed of steel plate and are provided with rearwardly inclined flanges 20. As will beclear`-from'Fig."-1 the rearportion'of the seat IlisV carriedby the flanges 2l] of supports I4 whilelthe front of the seat rests at slightly higher elevation 1on`the front member I0 of the frame 9.

The 'back member 6 of the chairs comprises a frame 2I formed from a length of steel angle stock bentinto U-shape as best shown in Fig. 6, the sidesvof the U being Vconnected adjacent their free'lends by across `piece 23`to leave extendingportions 22 adapted to be inserted in slots I8 or I9 of the supports I3 as shown in Figs. 1 and 3 to give the desired inclination of the chair back when the parts are in chair forming position. As Will be clear from Fig. 3 the lower portion of the chair back is inserted within frame 9 and engages the rear member I I) of said frame at 35. All joints of the back frame are welded and members 2I and 23 are provided with drilled holes 24 for the attachment, by means of screws, of a ply wood base 25 to which suitable upholstery 26 may be secured in any suitable manner.

The chair seats 1 comprise a ply wood base member 21 to the under side of which cleats 28 are secured as by screws 29 to prevent sidewise 0r longitudinal displacement of the seat when in chair forming position. The upholstery 3U of the seat, which is secured in any suitable manner to the base member 2l, is of the same depth as the back upholstery 26.

Since the chair units are usually placed next to a wall, arm 5 of the side adjacent to the Wall may be continuous with side 4 but arm 5 on the opposite or outer side is removable and is held in position by pins 3| attached to arm 5 by bolts 32. Pins 3| are insertable in sockets 33 which are welded to angle II and bolted to side 4 at 34.

When used as a couch or divan the outer arms 5 are removed, the seats and backs of both chair units are removed and the backs laid horizontally on their respective seat frames 9, as shown in Fig. 2, with their projecting portion 22 toward each other. One seat member I is then placed on the extensions 22 as shown, the extra seat member 'I' being temporarily stored in available storage space in the vehicle. For purposes of easy alignment of the backs and seat members angled guides 36 are Welded to frame angle I2.

As shown in chair 3 of Figs. 1 and 2, members I3 and I4 may be provided at both the front and back of the chair base so that the chairs may be arranged to face each other as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1. In vehicles such as busses, trailers and airplanes which always travel in the same direction it may be desirable to make only one chair member thus reversible in direction but it will be understood that both chairs may be so constructed if desired.

I claim:

1. A convertible chair combination which comprises two spaced chair units each comprising a box-like base member, chair arms secured at the sides of said base, at least one of said arms being removable, removable back and seat members, the back member being provided at its lower corners with extending members, slotted members secured within the base in which said extending members are selectively engageable to vary the inclination of the back, the back members of the two chair units' adapted to be supported in horizontal position by their respective bases with said extending members toward each other, the latter forming, when the backs are in the last named position, supports for one of the seat members to convert the two chairs into a couch.

2. A convertible chair combination which comprises two spaced chair units each comprising a box-like base member open at the top and hav- .ing its front and rear faces inwardly inclined to decrease the bottom width of the base, a removable back member provided with angle iron extensions at its lower corners, back supporting brackets positioned against the inside faces of the endsof the base adjacent the rear corners thereof, said brackets being in the form of plates having inwardly and upwardly turned iianges along their lower edges, a plurality of slots formed in the upwardly turned flanges of the brackets to receive the ends of the extensions of the back members, removable seat members, and seat supporting brackets, having rearwardly and downwardly inclined flanges, positioned against the inside faces of the ends of the base to support the rear portion of the seat member when the latter is in chair forming position, the back members of the two chair units adapted to be supported in horizontal position by their respective bases with their corner extensions toward each other, the latter forming, when the backs are in the last named position, supports for one of the seat members to convert the two chair units into a couch.

3. In a convertible chair construction, an adjustable and removable back member having projections at its lower corners, a box-like base member, supporting brackets for said back member secured within the base member and comprising vertical plates provided at their lower edges with horizontally and upwardly turned flanges, and a plurality of slots formed in the upwardly turned flanges to selectively receive the free ends of said projections to support said back member in desired inclined position.

HUGH A. ROBINSON. SR. 

